Analysts discuss what draft will look like for Cowboys after their free agency haul

The Cowboys can afford to be flexible in next month’s NFL draft thanks to the frenetic free agency work they put in last week.

Having filled needs at defensive back and offensive line with four of their seven free-agent signings, the Cowboys can possibly draft the best player available at No. 14 or perhaps trade down.

“I think it’s going to be interesting for the Cowboys because they can listen to trade offers,” ESPN’s Todd McShay said on a recent podcast, per the Dallas Morning News’ web site. “Let’s say (Texas A&M quarterback) Ryan Tannehill does fall all the way to 14 for some possible reason, or a different player and a team wants to move up a few spots. I think this sets up the Cowboys to take advantage of the draft and a player that falls to them at 14 because they are not forced to do anything.”

Another ESPN analyst, Mel Kiper Jr., thinks the Cowboys should continue to try to improve defensively.

“If you’re the Dallas Cowboys, you need to play defense a lot better than they did,” Kiper said. “I mean they were, I wouldn’t say sieve-like, but close to it. I think the secondary has all kinds of issues. I don’t think necessarily that Brandon Carr is going to mean they go away from corner. I don’t think Brodney Pool means they go away from safety. They need more than just one guy at those spots.”

“I think Mark Barron is such a good football player,” Kiper said. “He will shore up a back end (of a defense). He will give leadership to a back end, veteran experience coming from (Alabama coach) Nick Saban that I think makes him a better pick than (Alabama cornerback Dre) Kirkpatrick.

“I think (Barron) is a more consistent player. I think he’s a better player than Dr Kirkpatrick. So I would go Mark Barron. We’ll see what direction they go, but I do think it will be a defensive pick for the Cowboys at No. 14.”

Kiper supported his theory by pointing out that the Cowboys will need all the defensive help they can get to deal with a division that includes Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning (Giants), Cowboys slayer Michael Vick (Eagles) and likely the No. 2 overall pick in the draft Robert Griffin III (Redskins).

“Bottom line, there’s going to be a time when RGIII is an outstanding NFL quarterback,” Kiper said. “That’s at least what the Redskins hope and we believe they’re going to be right on that.”

But McShay believes the best-player-available route could be Dallas’ best option.

“Maybe it’s another pass rusher, which they don’t necessarily need,” McShay said. “Maybe it’s (former Memphis defensive tackle) Dontari Poe, a guy that needs time to develop but could realistically play defensive end or nose tackle in that 3-4 scheme.”

Bottom line: The Cowboys have plenty of options to study because of what they did in free agency.

“I love when teams are able to fill their voids with proven commodities and veterans in the NFL and then go to the draft and be able to sit back and…are not forced to pick those certain posiitions,” McShay said.